These first years are a very important and pivotal time for a developing young brain. This intense period of brain growth and network building happens only once in a lifetime. We as parents have a brief but golden opportunity to help our babies stimulate the formation of brain circuitry. Here are some fascinating facts that researchers have discovered:

• Babies have a biological need and desire to learn
• The foundational networking of the brain’s synapses is nearly complete after the rapid brain development of the first 3 years
• The more stimulating experiences you can give your baby means the more circuitry that is built for enhanced learning in the future.
• Babies have a definite preference for high contrast images.
• The amount of connections in the brain can increase or decrease by 25 percent depending on the environment and stimulation.
• Visual stimulation can produce developmental advantages including enhanced curiosity, attentiveness and concentration.
• Your baby’s best toy is you! Interact with your baby as much as possible!

Things you can do to stimulate your baby:

• Love. First of all, remember love and affection are very real needs. Your baby is never tyring to manipulate or control you, he/she simply has a biological need for your love. This unconditional love also creates a strong self-esteem and increased development of brain circuitry.
• Talk to your baby, often with a kind voice, a wide range of vocabulary, and a lot of expression. Your voice is her favorite sound (he/she has heard it since before she was born).
• Respond to your babies requests (interpreted cries)without hesitation. This teaches her that she can communicate with other people and gives her a stong sense of trust and emotional stability.
• Touch your baby. Researchers discovered that premature infants that were massaged grew faster, cried less, and were released earlier from the hospital than those who weren’t.
• Encourage imitation. Your baby is constantly analyzing you and figuring out ways to mimic your voice and facial expressions.
• Let you baby experience different surroundings: go for walks, take her places, show her sites!
• Let your baby explore different textures and temperatures (not too extreme, of course). Provide a safe environment for your baby to explore. She also needs time to discover things for herself.
• Read books: even though your baby can’t follow the story, he/she loves the pictures and the sound of your voice.
• Play music for your baby
• When you get frustrated because your baby keeps dripping objects or pours the box of cereal on the floor, remember, he/she is trying to figure out how the world operates.

Randy Kaplan

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In this interview we talk with award winning kids musician Randy Kaplan about his guitar heros and how he became a song writer and performer for kids.  We will talk about his latest album that made it to People magazines “Top 8 Kids Albums Now”
SHOW NOTES
To learn more about Randy and sample some of his music please visit www.randykaplan.com
“Like” Randy on his Facebook Page
You can also check out his music videos at www.mykazoomusic.com

Damhorst Toys 1977

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Hello everyone, during this episode my youngest sister and I talk about how our family business was started by our parents Don and Carol Damhorst in 1971.  The picture on the left is me with the bell bottom jeans and my sister and co-owner Megin in the middle along with our faithful dog “Duke”.  Don and Carol (Mom and Dad) in the background had just finished a day in the workshop when this picture was taken for their first local newspaper article.

Below is a picture of the inside of the Damhorst Toys workshop where most of the Name Puzzle Stools sold in the 80′s & 90′s were made.

Don & Carol in their workshop

Carol Damhorst at her jigsaw

Dietitian Mindy Podolsky Owens

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Today we are very lucky and excited to have Mindy Podolsky Owens with us.

• Mindy is a registered dietitian with a Masters Degree in Nutrition.
• She was the dietitian for the University of Chicago Hospitals Executive Health Program
• She was also an adjunct professor in the Natural Sciences Division of Pepperdine University
• And now runs her own private practice counseling adults, children and families on weight management and healthy eating.

Mindy will be sharing her expertise with us today in making the right nutritional choices for ourselves and our kids in a busy world.
SHOW NOTES
Please learn more about Mindy at  her website http://www.haveahealthyhome.com/

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Join us for this interview with Julie May, Dana Carvey’s personal assistant.  Julie gives us an inside look at the personal affairs of a comedy superstar, and almost reveals something big on the horizon for Dana Carvey, but is sworn to secrecy.